It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, when Walt Disney World had the market hog on the Central Florida tourist scene and everything was looking good for years to come. Well, all that changed when some popular names like SeaWorld and Universal Studios decided to jump into the ring. Not too long ago, the Disney vibe was that this was nothing they had to worry about because they were Disney and no one could knock them off the top of the hill.
Well let’s fast forward to now, actually a few years ago and take a look at how Universal Studios went from one park to two parks and then to three parks. While Disney rode its in-house horse and forgot about its so-called partners, Universal bought land, established customer relationships, created cutting-edge attractions, worked with outside fan-based groups, and built its own exclusive resorts on its property. draining the once hardened Disney traveler into their reasonably priced vacation destination.
I have to give credit where credit is due and it is to SeaWorld for their constant expansion and development of taller and faster roller coasters as well as seasonal festivals. As for Universal Orlando Resort, they have been building family resorts that are for real families on a budget and can stay without going to the poorhouse. Try staying at a Disney resort these days and you may have to take out a second mortgage to get a new unwanted credit card.
Disney has a great brand and will always have a soft spot for many travelers. However, they have been quite arrogant in their mindset for quite some time now and a little humility could help them. It seems like the many people who helped get to where they are today have been forgotten overnight and it shows! Universal has become a force to be reckoned with and now that they have their new Volcano Bay water benefit running smoothly, this will be another park that is sure to take Disney out of business.
Patrick writes for Kissimmee-based authorized ticket reseller: The Official Ticket Center, which specializes in offering discounts to Orlando’s major theme parks and includes discounted tickets to Disney, SeaWorld, discounted tickets to Universal Studios and tickets to many others. exclusive areas of fun and entertainment. and events in and around the Florida Sunshine State.
